153 results about ASIA-PACIFIC

Leaders from the European Union and from a host of Asian countries are meeting in Brussels, Belgium, this week for a high-level gathering that is due to tackle subjects like economic cooperation, t... READ MORE

Ministers representing 16 Asia-Pacific countries called for “further improvements” in negotiating a sweeping trade accord, while outlining some advances in talks on the framework of rul... READ MORE

NEWS

Asia-Pacific Officials Lay Groundwork for High-Level Autumn Meetings

September 13, 2018

The coming months are due to see high levels of activity on trade in the Asia-Pacific, as different country coalitions work to make progress on their respective agendas for regional economic integr... READ MORE

NEWS

APEC Summit Wraps Up in Vietnam, Looking to Next Steps for Trade and Integration Agenda

November 16, 2017

Leaders of the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies concluded their 25th annual meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, on 11 November. Preceded by several weeks of technical, thematic... READ MORE

Negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP-11, resumed late last week in Tokyo, Japan, as officials debated a series of proposed options for advancing the accord before key meetings in O... READ MORE

NEWS

US, New Zealand Officials Look to Deepen Trade Ties

June 22, 2017

US and New Zealand officials are exploring options to deepen bilateral trade ties, with the possibility of formal trade talks being floated. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay met with US trade... READ MORE

NEWS

New data shows US loss from TPP withdrawal

June 21, 2017

The US will lose an estimated US$3.1bn from its exports due to its Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) withdrawal, a new study shows. Meanwhile the remaining 11 members would enjoy marginal gains from the... READ MORE

RESEARCH

The Art of the Trade Deal: Quantifying the benefits of a TPP without the United States

June 13, 2017

This report uses econometric modelling and analysis to examine how Canada and other TPP signatories would fare under a TPP11; what the U.S. stands to lose; and, how the agreement would affect diffe... READ MORE

NEWS

U.S. pork industry chief eager for early trade deal with Japan after Trump’s TPP withdrawal

June 13, 2017

A U.S. pork industry leader has expressed strong hopes to see Washington and Tokyo quickly strike a free trade agreement, following the decision by President Donald Trump to withdraw America from the... READ MORE

The past weekend saw ministerial meetings of multiple configurations in the Vietnamese city of Hanoi, as officials discussed the future of various trade-related initiatives in the region. The main eve... READ MORE

NEWS

TPP Meetings in Toronto Look to Set Stage for Hanoi Talks

May 4, 2017

Senior officials from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries met in Toronto, Canada, on 2-3 May for preparatory discussions on next steps before a ministers’ level gathering in Hanoi,... READ MORE

NEWS

Asia’s dynamism at risk in US and China’s competing visions for global trade

May 3, 2017

Donald Trump, US president, asserts that “protection will lead to great prosperity and strength”. In contrast, President Xi Jinping of China insists that “we must promote trade and investment, liberal... READ MORE

The past week has seen various meetings on advancing regional integration projects in the Asia-Pacific, including a new round of talks between China, South Korea, and Japan on a trilateral trade de... READ MORE

NEWS

Trade After the Trans-Pacific Partnership

April 3, 2017

In mid-March, ministers and high-level representatives from nations that have signed on to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as China, Colombia and South Korea, met for the first time since the T... READ MORE

NEWS

Economic Integration Efforts Press Onward in Asia-Pacific Region

March 16, 2017

The past week has seen a series of regional integration efforts continue among Asia-Pacific economies, including a two-day summit among the signatories of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and se... READ MORE

NEWS

The Big TPP Meeting in Chile, Explained

March 14, 2017

On the third day of this presidency, Donald Trump signed an executive order formally withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement resulting from over five years of... READ MORE

NEWS

Vietnam Looks for Trade Deal with US

March 14, 2017

Vietnam is seeking a trade deal with the United States to replace the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement. Official media in Vietnam say Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke to a del... READ MORE

NEWS

Latin, Asian nations pursue free trade without U.S.

March 13, 2017

With the U.S. signaling a turn toward protectionism, nations that have benefited from global commerce, from Australia to Japan to Peru, are trying to pick up the free-trade mantle. READ MORE

NEWS

EU's Malmström Pushes for Deeper Trade Ties in Asia-Pacific Region

March 9, 2017

Boosting economic ties with the Asia-Pacific region is one of the main items on the EU trade docket this week, as the bloc’s top trade official travels to Singapore and the Philippines for ta... READ MORE

RESEARCH

US Trade Policy Options in the Pacific Basin: Bigger Is Better

February 15, 2017

As promised throughout the campaign, one of the first acts carried out by President Donald Trump was to order the US Trade Representative to withdraw formally from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TP... READ MORE

NEWS

China, New Zealand pledge support for free trade to counter global protectionism

February 10, 2017

New Zealand and China will soon hold a series of high-level meetings and work to promote free trade, the countries' governments said on Friday, amidst growing concerns about U.S. trade protectionism.... READ MORE

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has told China that she doesn't take seriously the Trump administration's threat to tear up its trade agreement with Australia. China's foreign affairs minister, Wang Yi,... READ MORE

NEWS

Trump may be boon to Pacific Alliance

February 10, 2017

Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to trash the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the four-nation Pacific Alliance is courting TPP as well as non-TPP countries -- including China. READ MORE

NEWS

TPP Signatories Consider Next Steps Following US Withdrawal

February 9, 2017

Various meetings between ministers from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries are on the docket in the coming weeks, as the remaining signatories of the Pacific Rim accord weigh their next... READ MORE

RESEARCH

The International Trade Commission’s Assessment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Main Findings and Implications

February 7, 2017

In May of 2016 the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) issued its assessment of the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This paper highlights the main findings of the ITC... READ MORE

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met in Sydney last weekend to discuss a host of trade issues, including their plans to move forward with the Trans-... READ MORE

NEWS

Trump's Trade Agenda Would Turn Back the Clock to Another Age

December 22, 2016

President-elect Donald Trump and his economic team are threatening to dynamite the foundations of global trade that have underpinned decades of growth, with potentially dire consequences for the econo... READ MORE

NEWS

ASEAN's regional trade pact gaining growing momentum

December 15, 2016

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has come into the global spotlight with the imminent demise of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. And the conclusion of the 16th round of RCEP neg... READ MORE

NEWS

Asia-Pacific: Japan Ratifies TPP, RCEP Gears Up for 2017

December 15, 2016

Japan’s upper house of parliament ratified the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement on Friday 9 December, marking the final stage for the Asian economy’s approval of the accord.READ MORE

RESEARCH

Asian Economic Integration Report 2016

December 15, 2016

The Asian Economic Integration Report 2016: What drives foreign direct investment in Asia and the Pacific? is ADB’s annual report on Asia’s regional economic cooperation and integration... READ MORE

Almost a year on from the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), it is clear that the landmark deal is helping to underpin the bilateral relations amid an increasingly uncertain world. READ MORE

RESEARCH

Environment in the Trans-Pacific Partnership: A Legal Analysis

December 13, 2016

The objective of this paper is to provide policymakers in the fields of trade and sustainable development with a brief overview of the main elements and potential implications of the environmental... READ MORE

NEWS

RCEP to consolidate Asian integration

December 13, 2016

There have been many statements in the media lately about the impact of the United States election on Asia, specifically regarding president-elect Donald Trump’s comments about the Trans-Pacific Partn... READ MORE

NEWS

Vietnam Pivots Away from US-Led Trade Zone as Trump Preps for Office

December 12, 2016

Vietnamese officials once excited by joining the U.S.-led Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a sweeping Pacific Rim trade zone, are looking instead to other deals that would stimulate their export-depen... READ MORE

NEWS

Malaysia’s trade policy post–TPP

December 10, 2016

Malaysia’s trade with the United States has been in decline. But with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement dead in the water, what is next for Malaysia’s trade agenda? READ MORE

NEWS

RCEP negotiators conclude 2nd chapter

December 10, 2016

The 16th round of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations has officially finished, after four days of negotiation meetings attended by more than 600 delegates from 16 participa... READ MORE

NEWS

Australian Treaties Committee Urges TPP Ratification

December 8, 2016

The Australian Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) issued its report on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement to the country’s parliament last week, recommending that Canberr... READ MORE

NEWS

TPP Can Be Fixed If You Know What’s Wrong with It

December 5, 2016

President-elect Donald Trump confirmed on November 21, 2016 that he would withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on day one of his administration. Opposition to the TPP was a central theme... READ MORE

NEWS

RCEP Is Not the Anti-TPP

December 3, 2016

RCEP is a necessary step for Asian regional integration, regardless of what happens with TPP. READ MORE

NEWS

Asia-Pacific Leaders Consider Next Steps for TPP Accord

November 24, 2016

US President-elect Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he would be pulling the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) upon taking office, in a move that has left fellow Asia-Pac... READ MORE

NEWS

Asia-Pacific Leaders Consider Next Steps for TPP Accord

November 24, 2016

US President-elect Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he would be pulling the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) upon taking office, in a move that has left fellow Asia-Pac... READ MORE

NEWS

China Wants Quick Close on Regional Trade Agreement for Asia

November 23, 2016

China wants to seal the deal on a trade agreement with Southeast Asian countries as soon as possible with a U.S.-led pact now in doubt, a Ministry of Commerce official said Thursday. The country will... READ MORE

NEWS

APEC Leaders Issue Declaration in Lima

November 20, 2016

The Leaders of the 21 APEC member economies concluded the 2016 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima on Sunday by adopting a Declaration on advancing quality growth and human development. READ MORE

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to further open China's economy, as leaders of Asia-Pacific countries sought new trade options at this year's APEC meeting in Peru. The summit comes just over... READ MORE

RESEARCH

TPP Could Go Forward without the United States

November 15, 2016

The election of Donald Trump has closed the door to consideration of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) during the lame duck session of Congress this year. During the campaign, Trump vowed to rip... READ MORE

NEWS

Obama administration suspends Pacific trade deal vote effort

November 11, 2016

U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has suspended its efforts to win congressional approval for his Asian free-trade deal before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, saying on Friday th... READ MORE

TPP ratification down to the wire in waning Obama White House

November 8, 2016

No matter who prevails in Tuesday’s presidential election, the U.S. ambassador to Canada says President Barack Obama is determined to win an uphill fight to get congressional approval of the controver... READ MORE

The ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is crucial at a time when protectionist sentiments are on the rise around the world, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday (Sept 28).... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Appraising the TPP: What Should We Care About?

September 20, 2016

It appears likely that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will come up for a vote in the lame duck session to be held after the presidential elections. How should we judge if it is a good deal?READ MORE

NEWS

Obama Pushes TPP Case in Asia, Despite Difficult Landscape at Home

September 15, 2016

US President Barack Obama continued to make the case for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) during a visit to Asia last week, warning of the risk to his country’s leadership prospects abroad... READ MORE

NEWS

Obama Still Has a Shot at Passing the TPP

August 17, 2016

Given that the two contenders for the U.S. presidency are strongly against free trade agreements, you would think that they are reflecting the views of the American people. They are not. READ MORE

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in a joint press conference with visiting President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, after their bilateral meetings here today, said they discussed the possibility... READ MORE

RESEARCH

The economic impact of Trans-Pacific partnership: What have we learned from CGE simulation?

August 4, 2016

One of the most widely used techniques for evaluating the economic impact of regional trading agreements is numerical simulation with computable general equilibrium models. There have now been a la... READ MORE

NEWS

Obama Defends Trans-Pacific Deal Against Strong Anti-Trade Tide

August 2, 2016

Battling a powerful anti-trade tide, President Obama vowed on Tuesday to continue pressing for his historic trans-Pacific trade deal over opposition from both Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump, sayi... READ MORE

NEWS

Alibaba floats airport free-trade zone

August 1, 2016

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has floated a proposal for a free trade zone to be created in Auckland near to the airport. Alibaba president Michael Evans promoted the idea to senior Cabinet ministe... READ MORE

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo will travel to Jakarta this week in his first trade-related overseas trip since the election, underscoring the emphasis Australia is placing on finalising the free trade agr... READ MORE

NEWS

RCEP Countries Conclude Auckland Round, Eye Next Steps

June 23, 2016

Negotiators meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, last week continued their efforts to finalise talks this year for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a 16-country trade and investme... READ MORE

NEWS

Regional trade talks out in open

June 13, 2016

Trade Minister Todd McClay is out to banish the taint of excessive secrecy from New Zealand's free trade negotiations by holding a public session with this country's trade negotiators during this week... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Monitoring Regional Economic Integration in Asia

June 9, 2016

Given the diversity of Asia and the capacity constraints of countries in the region to manage integration, building an integrated Asian market is not easy. Because regional economic integration is... READ MORE

Trade ministers from 21 Asia-Pacific economies meeting in Arequipa, Peru, last week called for progress in a... READ MORE

NEWS

New Zealand Lawmakers Hold First "Reading" of TPP Legislation

May 19, 2016

New Zealand lawmakers held their first “reading” last week of an omnibus bill that would enact the necessary changes to domestic law for bringing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agr... READ MORE

NEWS

Mexico Banking on New Market Access Through TPP to Grow Its Economy

May 12, 2016

Mexican Trade Minister Herminio Blanco told a gathering of Mexican and Japanese business leaders earlier this month that “Mexico will become more competitive when the TPP [Trans-Pacific Partnership] t... READ MORE

NEWS

Vietnam calls for more ASEAN-Pacific Alliance exchange activities

May 12, 2016

Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam, head of the Vietnamese delegation to ASEAN made the propose at a meeting between the ASEAN’s Committee of Permanent Representative (CPR) and the PA’s Group of External Rel... READ MORE

NEWS

Japan, EU leaders agree to accelerate free trade talks

May 4, 2016

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and European Union leaders have agreed to expedite negotiations for a free trade deal and reach a broad accord by the end of the year, Japanese officials said. Abe shared the... READ MORE

NEWS

Pacific Alliance trade pact aims to build regional value chains

May 3, 2016

The Pacific Alliance free trade agreement eliminates member countries’ tariffs on 92% of imports and exports with the aim of developing regional value chains. The free trade agreement for the regional... READ MORE

NEWS

Indonesia-EU free trade talks take big step forward

April 18, 2016

Indonesia and the European Union (EU) are one step closer to realising a free trade agreement after talks to discuss the scope of documents outlining the items they want to include in the negotiations... READ MORE

NEWS

John Key leads delegation to China to talk trade

April 18, 2016

Prime Minister John Key and two of his senior ministers will be pushing for greater trade access to China during an official visit there this week. While two-way trade has increased substantially to m... READ MORE

NEWS

Africa, TPP, and TTIP: Integration or isolation?

April 14, 2016

With the demise of the Doha Development Round at the World Trade Organization Ministerial in Nairobi this past December, the multilateral approach to global trade negotiations has largely ended. Given... READ MORE

Representatives from more than 1,000 Australian businesses will be part of Australia's "largest ever trade mission" to China this month, following the signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreeme... READ MORE

Australia has offered to be flexible in the area of services and customs procedures to get an early agreement on the proposed bilateral free trade pact with India. “Canberra has agreed to accommodate... READ MORE

Indonesian and Australian free trade talks are set to progress this week in a bid to turn around "underdone" business and investment ties following a period of heightened bilateral tensions. Former in... READ MORE

NEWS

The End of Free Trade?

March 15, 2016

The debate on trade in the U.S. presidential election should concern Korea because trade has come under fire from the left and right. On the left, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders blames the North American... READ MORE

NEWS

Asia-Pacific Report: Free-trade talks with Japan back on front burner

March 13, 2016

A leading Japanese trade policy expert says there may finally be some progress toward a Canada-Japan free-trade agreement after years of inactivity, as both Ottawa and Tokyo shift focus away from the... READ MORE

RESEARCH

What the TPP means for Latin America and the Caribbean

March 9, 2016

On February 4, 2016, after five years of negotiations, the members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) signed the trade pact, considered to be the highest standard trade agreement to d... READ MORE

NEWS

APEC Senior Officials Drive Quality Growth Amid Headwinds

March 4, 2016

Senior Officials from the 21 APEC member economies have convened in Lima to develop new measures for delivering higher quality growth. They are intent on improving social mobility and living standards... READ MORE

Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong will visit Australia this month as both countries prioritise a free-trade deal that had stalled amid diplomatic tensions and a climate of economic protectionis... READ MORE

NEWS

TPP keeps the internet’s rules liberal

February 29, 2016

There has been a good deal of hype touting the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement as the first ‘21st century’ trade pact. Whether it lives up to this high accolade is current... READ MORE

NEWS

Trade, Economic Ties in Focus as US, ASEAN Leaders Meet

February 18, 2016

Regional trade and economic ties were high on the agenda during a two-day summit of US and Southeast Asian leaders in the California resort of Sunnylands, held from 15-16 February.

NZ - EU FTA would benefit SMEs says McClay

February 16, 2016

New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay has been holding meetings about future negotiations with the EU in Brussels. A free trade agreement with the European Union would be of particular benefit to sma... READ MORE

NEWS

TPP Adds to South Korean Economic Woes

February 9, 2016

There is growing concern in South Korea that the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could further hurt the country's economy, which is already experiencing a steep drop in exports and slow growt... READ MORE

NEWS

TPP to help protect brands, lower nontariff barriers

February 8, 2016

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, a comprehensive free trade agreement spanning parts of the Asia-Pacific, is expected to lower tariffs on food and agricultural products. The pact could also bring food p... READ MORE

NEWS

Trade agreements are in ASEAN’s best interests

February 6, 2016

At the last Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in November 2015, the United States and China advanced their own set of interests with respect to trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific regio... READ MORE

NEWS

APEC Members Slash Tariffs on Environmental Goods, Group Says

February 4, 2016

Members of the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) alliance have released documents detailing progress on implementing their joint pledge to cut applied tariffs to five percent or le... READ MORE

NEWS

After signing, Peru looks to ratify Trans-Pacific Partnership

February 4, 2016

Peru and 11 other countries including the United States formally signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in New Zealand on Thursday. With 12 member countries whose population of 800 million mak... READ MORE

NEWS

Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal signed in Auckland

February 4, 2016

The Trans Pacific Partnership, one of the biggest multinational trade deals ever, has been signed by ministers from its 12 member nations in New Zealand. The ceremony in Auckland brings the huge trade... READ MORE

After five and a half years of negotiations, the Barack Obama administration concluded the most ambitious free trade deal of the postwar era on October 5, 2015. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)... READ MORE

RESEARCH

RCI Chat Issue No. 14

February 1, 2016

This issue of the Asia Regional Integration Center's bimonthly newsletter provides the latest news on trade, investment, cross-border infrastructure, and regional public goods among other topic... READ MORE

NEWS

Why the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Is More Important Than TPP

January 30, 2016

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) — the former a free trade agreement covering 12 countries from North and South America to the Pacific... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Studies of TPP: Which is Credible?

January 29, 2016

To decide which of these studies is more credible, three questions should be asked: First, is the model that is used appropriate for exploring trade policy? Second, has the TPP been depicted in tha... READ MORE

NEWS

TPP in the Spotlight as February Signing Date Approaches

January 28, 2016

The international debate on the potential merits and pitfalls of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement has ramped up in recent weeks, ahead of the pact’s scheduled signing by the part... READ MORE

NEWS

Indonesia to speed up EU CEPA negotiation

January 26, 2016

Indonesia will speed up negotiations on the Indonesia-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to have an agreement with the EU come into effect within two years... READ MORE

NEWS

Malaysia trade minister calls on parliament to pass TPP bill

January 26, 2016

Malaysia's trade minister warned Tuesday that the country will lag behind Vietnam if it does not accede to the Trans-Pacific Partnership as parliament began a session to debate and vote on the controv... READ MORE

NEWS

The TPP and the Sputtering Global Trade System

January 26, 2016

With the death-knell of the Doha Round seemingly signaled at the recent Nairobi Ministerial, and questions about the relevancy of the WTO intensifying, anyone reflecting on the current state of the gl... READ MORE

The TPP was originally known as the Trans- Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership concluded in 2006 among Singapore, New Zealand, Chile and Brunei (P-4 agreement) as a means to promote trade liberaliz... READ MORE

NEWS

China, free trade deals boost wine exports

January 21, 2016

Rocketing Chinese demand and new free trade agreements in Asia have helped lift the value of Australian wine exports to their highest level since before the global finance crisis.
The value of wine e... READ MORE

NEWS

Chinese digital firms can plug into region via Singapore

January 21, 2016

Singapore can be an effective launch pad for Chinese digital companies to expand into the region, says Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran. He noted yesterday that the growing middle... READ MORE

NEWS

India, Australia miss free trade pact deadline

January 21, 2016

Despite missing the deadline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australia’s then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott for December 31, 2015, negotiators are still hopeful that the India-Australia free trad... READ MORE

Grape-growers in the New South Wales Upper Hunter appear to be reaping the benefits of Australia's free trade agreement with Japan, a year after the deal was finalised. Export sales for fresh table gr... READ MORE

NEWS

Misplaced Trade Deals

January 20, 2016

Pakistan’s trade policy in recent years seems rather confusing and purposeless, to put it mildly. With the global economy slowing down post 2008 and remaining so till today, and with commodity prices... READ MORE

NEWS

Recovery From Trade Swoon May Be Slow

January 19, 2016

Say goodbye to the golden age of the container ship. Compared with the level of economic growth, global trade is in the midst of its worst slowdown in decades. And even if imports and exports pick up... READ MORE

NEWS

TPP will help create jobs and boost global growth

January 19, 2016

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and U.S. President Barack Obama will sit down at the White House to discuss a number of crucial issues from security to the economy. On the economy, they wil... READ MORE

NEWS

Free Trade Agreement with Thailand may not benefit Pakistan

January 15, 2016

Experts have urged the government to complete its homework before engaging into the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand as, historically, FTAs have failed to usher favourable terms for Pakistan’s... READ MORE

NEWS

McClay ready to make his TPP sales pitch

January 13, 2016

Trade Minister Todd McClay is not an openly combative politician. He yesterday told the Herald he plans to take a painstaking approach to selling the case for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to Ne... READ MORE

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Singapore has entered 10 agreements to boost economic ties between Singapore and China, it said on Monday. The bank is part of the pioneer batch of finan... READ MORE

NEWS

ASEAN at court in Sunnylands

January 6, 2016

At the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, in November, President Obama reached out to elevate the United States–ASEAN relationship to a ‘strategic partnership’ and invited ASEAN Leaders to a summit that, i... READ MORE

NEWS

The TPP Train Could Still Get Derailed

January 6, 2016

Three months ago, trade negotiators pulled an all-nighter and wrapped up discussions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in Atlanta. There was much rejoicing, as it had been just over seven years s... READ MORE

NEWS

U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorses Obama’s Pacific Rim trade pact

January 6, 2016

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce formally endorsed President Obama's Pacific Rim trade accord Wednesday, becoming the third major business association to support the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership th... READ MORE

BLOG

What Does the TPP Mean for Latin America and the Caribbean?

January 4, 2016

On October 5 the twelve members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) announced the conclusion of negotiations. Together, the member countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, United S... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Potential Implications of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

January 1, 2016

On October 4, 2015, 12 Pacific Rim countries concluded negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. If ratified, the agreement could raise member country GDP by an average of 1.1... READ MORE

RESEARCH

The Economic Effects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership: New Estimates

January 1, 2016

This Working Paper estimates the effects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) using a comprehensive, quantitative trade model, updating results reported in Petri, Plummer, and Zhai (201... READ MORE

Much of the world is entering into mega-regional free trade areas (FTAs). Indeed, October 5, 2015 marked the ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the most significant trade agreement i... READ MORE

NEWS

Singapore minister calls for resumption of EU-ASEAN FTA talks

December 29, 2015

Singapore's trade and industry minister has called for a resumption of free trade talks between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations now that problems over Myanmar have be... READ MORE

NEWS

Japan sets standard as free trade soars

December 18, 2015

Soaring agribusiness and other exports to Japan will be detailed today by Malcolm Turnbull in a development that will buoy ­industry and the government, reeling from the massive hit to iron ore revenu... READ MORE

NEWS

China Free Trade deal has $4bn toll on budget bottom line

December 15, 2015

The China Free Trade Agreement will be the biggest single policy expense in today’s budget update, costing around $4 billion over the four-year budget period, however it is not clear whether the gover... READ MORE

NEWS

Economic reform is crucial to sustain long-term growth in Vietnam

December 11, 2015

The economy will likely report a solid growth performance of 6.6% for this year. But to sustain the sanguine economic outlook in the long-term, reforms will be crucial. In this regard, a steady proces... READ MORE

NEWS

APEC's New Focus

December 11, 2015

Strong trade growth has traditionally driven strong growth in the Pacific Rim region, but trade growth has disappointed over the last few years. At the same time, the region is having to come to te... READ MORE

NEWS

Stuck between major trade deals

December 11, 2015

The global trade system of the future will be determined by two mega-bilateral deals, the Transpacific Trade Partnership (TPP), for which negotiations have basically been completed, and the Transatlan... READ MORE

NEWS

Prime Targets: 5 Top Trade Deals to Boost Financial Services

December 10, 2015

Canada should focus on five priority trade deals to open markets and benefit its financial services sector, according to a new report by the C.D. Howe Institute. In "Opening up New Trade Routes for Fi... READ MORE

NEWS

Fiji considers pulling out from Pacer Plus agreement

December 8, 2015

Fiji may consider pulling out from the Pacific Agreement for Closer Economic Relations, or PACER plus, which offers Pacific Island Forum countries benefit from enhanced regional trade and economic int... READ MORE

RESEARCH

An Assessment of the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement

December 1, 2015

Of all the free trade agreements (FTAs) concluded by Korea with its major trading partners since the turn of the century, the Korea-China FTA may the largest in trade terms. it is, however, far fro... READ MORE

Chinese President Xi Jinping continued to emphasize regional connectivity – including the completion of a free trade area spanning the entire Asia-Pacific region – at this year’s Asia Pacific Economic... READ MORE

NEWS

EU-Japan FTA: Why negotiations are far from over

November 18, 2015

Hopes that the three year-old negotiations between the EU and Japan towards a free trade agreement could be finalised by the end of this year are fading. Tokyo is now in a new bargaining position, mak... READ MORE

NEWS

How the TPP Could Prevent Currency Manipulation

November 18, 2015

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) did not deliver strong disciplines against unfair currency practices because other countries would not have signed on to a TPP with such sanctions. Nonetheless, th... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Beyond TPP: Sharing an Economic Strategy in Asia

November 1, 2015

This paper discussed the need for the United States to have a comprehensive economic strategy toward the Asia-Pacific, a region that will do more to determine U.S. interests over coming decades tha... READ MORE

RESEARCH

RCI Chat Issue No. 13

November 1, 2015

This is the 13th issue of the ARIC newsletter focused on cross-border infrastructure, trade, investment, money, finance and regional public goods. The November-December 2015 issue includes news on... READ MORE

NEWS

TPP as inspiration for the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi?

November 1, 2015

At the beginning of October, 12 Pacific Rim countries agreed on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. The TPP agreement has been hailed as a landmark trade pact, as it includes many issues th... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Should Korea Join the Trans-Pacific Partnership?

September 1, 2015

Despite a lack of consensus among Korea, Korean official recognize that -- sooner or later -- Korea will need to be part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Jreffrey J. Schott and Cathleen Cimi... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Korea and the TPP: The Inevitable Partnership

August 1, 2015

Korea's decision to delay joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks was a tactical mistake. It is now left with primarily two options to participate: (1) ask to join the TPP, if possibl... READ MORE

NEWS

Why the TPP is the linchpin of the Asia rebalance

July 28, 2015

This week, twelve trade ministers meet in Hawaii to try to complete negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. If they succeed, there will be substantial benefits for their nations... READ MORE

NEWS

Will the TPP Help Latin America?

May 1, 2015

With the International Monetary Fund having just cut its forecasts for economic growth in Latin America for the fifth year in a row, the region’s countries are casting about for ways to reignite inves... READ MORE

This paper argues that the formation of regional integration frameworks can be best understood as a dominant state’s attempt to create a preferred regional framework in which it an exercise e... READ MORE

RESEARCH

The Progress of Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific: Enabling International Supply Chain Integration

October 1, 2014

This working paper discusses on how to facilitate integration of international supply chain using paperless trade in the Asia-Pacific Region. The paper defines paperless trade and describes how pap... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Has Regional Integration Led To Greater Risk-Sharing In Asia?

July 1, 2014

This paper analyzes whether the degree of risk-sharing in East Asia has improved along with the observed rise in integration in the region. Higher risk-sharing is expected to result in (i) higher i... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Mega-regionals and the mega-mess: A way out

June 1, 2014

This column discusses the difficulties involved in consolidating free trade agreements at the regional level, and argues that piecing together the blocs around the world will be even more challengi... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Study of Non-Notified Trade Agreements to the World Trade Organization

May 1, 2014

This paper attempts to reveal those RTAs upon which the WTO fails to shed the light of the transparency exercise. While many studies have pointed out that there are many non-notified RTAs as a rese... READ MORE

RESEARCH

The problem with TTIP

May 1, 2014

Most economists cheer the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership that the EU is currently negotiating with the US. This column argues it is a pity that TTIP and other mega-regional agreeme... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Assessing the trade impacts of the ASEAN +6 FTA

April 1, 2014

This paper assesses the potential trade impacts of the expansion of the ASEAN to ASEAN+3 and ASEAN+6 on the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. It finds that bilateral exports are positively re... READ MORE

RESEARCH

The Investment Version of the Asian Noodle Bowl

April 1, 2014

This paper aims to provide a detailed reading of recent advances in Asian investment rulemaking and a finer appreciation of how rules in Asian IIAs have evolved in response to stimuli. While existi... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Why do Countries enter into Preferential Agreements on Trade in Services?

April 1, 2014

This report examines the potential for negotiated regulatory convergence in Asian services markets. The results suggest that countries within Asia that are more remote from the rest of the world an... READ MORE

RESEARCH

How Much Will the Davos Initiative Help Reduce Trade Barriers in “Green Goods”?

March 1, 2014

At its launch in 2001, the Doha Round of trade negotiations was dubbed the round for the “Developing Countries and for the protection of the environment.” Under Doha, World Trade Organi... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Achieving Trade Promotion Authority Will Require a Heavy Lift from the President

January 1, 2014

Most observers agree the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement will be tough to conclude because of the high-standard, comprehensive nature of the 12-country accord and the diversity of n... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Addressing Currency Manipulation Through Trade Agreements

January 1, 2014

The Policy Brief discusses the possibility of addressing currency manipulation and the subsequent effects on the US dollar and other currencies around the world. The paper outlines how the TPP and... READ MORE

Global Economics Monthly: Economics and the Rebalance

December 1, 2013

Like administrations before it, the Obama administration has put economics at the center of its Asia-Pacific strategy. But it has arguably raised the stakes by making the overall success of its pol... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Terms of Trade, Foreign Direct Investment, and Development: A Case of Intra-Asian “Kicking Away the ladder"?

December 1, 2013

This paper addresses in more detail the question raised in Wacker (2011b): why does foreign direct investment (FDI) generally have a positive impact on developing countries’ terms of trade ex... READ MORE

RESEARCH

The 2013 WTO Bali Ministerial: Prospects and New Horizons

November 1, 2013

Failure to address these issues will make further significant progress on the Doha Round difficult, notwithstanding a successful outcome in Bali. An important wild card is what impact other large b... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Developing the Service Sector as an Engine of Growth for Asia

October 1, 2013

This book analyzes the current state of the region's service sector, the salient barriers to service sector development, and the prospects for the sector to serve as an engine for inclusive gro... READ MORE

RESEARCH

On the Use of FTAs: A Review of Research Methodologies

May 1, 2013

There has been much confusion, rather than debate, on the use of free trade agreements (FTAs). Unfortunately, a large part of the confusion is caused by the absence of consensus on the meaning of k... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Global Economics Monthly: Five Myths about TPP

April 1, 2013

The decision to welcome Japan into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) promises to be transformative, not only for the world’s third-largest economy (see March 2013 Global Economics Monthly),... READ MORE

RESEARCH

What is Economic Corridor Development and What Can It Achieve in Asia’s Subregions?

March 1, 2013

Economic corridors connect economic agents along a defined geography. They provide important connections between economic nodes or hubs that are usually centered in urban landscapes. They do not st... READ MORE

RESEARCH

Why Japan Should Join the TPP

March 1, 2013

Since the first merchant ship of the new American republic set sail from New York for Canton in 1784, trade has been at the heart of U.S. strategy in the Asia-Pacific. Deepening economic exchange w... READ MORE

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Email *

* We respect your privacy and will never sell, rent, lease, or give away your information to any third party. By clicking "Register" below, you agree to receive emails from RTA Exchange about publications, events and other related updates. You can opt-out of these emails at any time.